Solid-wedge underreamer



Sept 2 J v 1,507,444 F. SWAN SOLID WEDGE UNDERREAMER Filed July :5 1923 '2 Shanta-8M! 1 HAW-M llll l l lll1l Fred 5 mm 2 Shun-Shut 2 F SWAN SOLID WEDGE UNDERREAMER' Filed July 5, 1923 Sept. 2 1924.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES;

PATENT cri ics,

FRED swan, or Manrnrra, OHIO.

SOLID-WEDGE- UNDERREAMER.

Application filed July 3,

' adapted for use in wells of small diameter.

The Swan under-reamer of the type shown in U. S. patents to John GSwan. Nos. 688,- 352, dated Sept. 24, 1901, and 979,106, dated Dec. 20, 1910, is satisfactory for use in wells of diameter from 5 inches up and will do effective work in wells of less diameter but for use in wells of a diameter of 4 inches or less the reaming bits or cutters necessarily have to be made of small size and in this type of uuder-reamer as well as in all other types of under-reamers with which I am familiar it is ditiicu'lt to produce cutters oi the small size required which can be depended on to have the .strength necessary tostand up under the conditions to which they are subjected in the operation of underreaming. This difficulty is further increased by the necessity of using in very. deep wells casing of increased thickness to withstand the water pressure at great depths, theincreased thickness of the casing necessarily reducing the interior diameter of the casing through which the drill must pass and increasing the difierence in diameter between the hole drilled below the casing and the hole to which it must be enlarged by the underreamer to permit the casing to be lOW6I6(l.-

The increased amount of work thus required to be done bythe under-reamer while requirmg some changes in proportion of the operating parts in the under-reamers for use.

1323. Serial No. 649,341.

tended to provide an'under-rea'mer in which solid cutters will be backed when in o e1"at'- ing position, by a solid wedge and the movement longitudinal of the underreamer body required in the movement of the cutters from collapsed toexpanded position will be greatly' reduced, even though more than usual expansion is required so that the strength nece essary for eflective work may be secured however small may be. p Vith the object above indicated, and other objects hereinafter explained in view, my

invention consists in the construction and hereinafter decombination of elements scribed and claimed.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side View of an under-reamer embodying my invention the under-reamer being shown in position to be inserted in the v in diameter the under-reamers V well casing, the reaming bits or cutters being shown in collapsed position.

Fig. 2 is a bottom end view of the underreamer shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a, front view of the under-reamer shown in Fig. 1, the under-reamer being shown in the well casing.

Fig. l is across sectional view on line al-% of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the under-reamer p with the reaming bits or cutters in expanded position in the well ho e, below the casing. 6 is a side view "of the under-reamer with the, reaming bits or cutters in expanded position. v

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the underreamer shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a top plan view ofthe underreamer body.

ing hits or cutters.

Fig. 10 is a bottom end view (a the ream- .ing bit or cutter shown in Fig. 7 i

11' is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 12 is side view of the rod by which i the reaming bits or cutters are drawn up into expanded position. and Fig. 13 is an end view of the same.

F' 14 shows. in side and end views. the pin on which the shanks of the reaming bits or cutters are pivoted.

Fig. 15 shows inside and edge View, mat for end of v 1 and y Fig. 16 is a detail view of the pin 36.

the pin shown in Fig.

the

In the drawings 1. indicates the under-- 95 Fig. 9 is a side view of one of theream v reamer body having at its lower end a central wedge 2 rectangular in cross section, except that it is cut away on each side to receive the shank of one of the cutters having at its lower end opposite inclined faces 3 at an angle of about 45 degrees. From the upper ends of these inclined faces the main faces 4 of the wedge extend upward and outward at a slight angle to the axial line of the under-reamer body to abutments 6, the lower faces of which are inclined outward and downward at a slight angle to a plane at right angles to the axial line of the under-reamer body. The sides 7 of the wedge are flat and parallel with the axial line of the under-reamer body. In the same planes with these sides 7 are formed recesses 8 extending upward from the abutments 6, the sides 9 and 10 converging from the abutments upward and terminating in arcs 11 which form a semicircular end for the recess.

The under-reamer body is centrally bored from its upper end to apoint in line with the abutments 6. In line with the lower portions of this central bore 12 is formed a slot 13 extending through the underreamer body at right angles to the planes of the recesses'S. This slot 13 extends longitudinally of the under-reamer body from a point in line with the abutments 6 to a point in line with the upper ends of the recesses 8. The central bore is enlarged, as shown at 14, from the upper end of the under-reamer body down to a short distance above the line of the upper ends of the recesses 8, this en argement tern'iinating in an annular shoulder 15. At its extreme upper end the central bore is enlarged to form the tapered screw threaded coupling socket 16.

Into the lower portion of the central bore extends a rod 17 having holes 18 and 19 extending through it at right angles to its axis and having a head 20 at its upper end, of a diameter adapted to lit the interior of the enlargement 14:. Between this head 20 and the annular shoulder 15 surrounding the upper portion of the rod is a coiled spring 21 which tends to force the rod upward. Through the hole 18 of the rod 17 extends a pin 22 which extends through the slots 13 into the recesses 8 and has secured in its ends within the recesses the shanks of the reaming bits or cutters.

The reaming bits or cutters are. two in number, the two being exactly alike. Each comprises a so id body portion 25 having its lower face so formed that when in expanded position itwill be in a plane substantially at right angles to the axial line of the under-reamer, this lower face having its outer edge formed on substantially the arc of a circle having the diameter of the hole to which the hole below casing is to be enlarged. The sides 26 of the body portion are flat and parallel. From the lower edge the outer face of the body portion 25 tapers upward and inward. The upper ends of the body portion is formed in an angle which corresponds to the angle of the lower face of the abutment 6. From its outer edge inward the thickness of the body portion 25 is such that when the body portions of the two cutters are brought together in collapsed position they will readily pass into the well casing.

The rear face of the body portion 25 is provided near its sides 26 with inwardly extending wings 27 and 28 which exteno upward beyond the upper face of the body portion to form shanks 29 and 30, having near their ends holes 31 to receive the ends of the pin 22. The wing 27 and shank 29 of one of the cutters fits against a side 7 of the wedge and against the bottom of a recess 8 and the wing 28 and shank 30 of the other cutter fits against the outer face of the wing 27 and shank 29 of the first cutter the holes 31 of the shanks being in line. The upper ends of the shanks are rounded off to correspond with the rounded upper ends of the recess 8, and the outer edges of the shanks are so formed that when the cutters are in expanded position these edges are in line with and nearly in contact with. the sides 9 andlO of the recess 8.

In order to permit the under-reamers to pass through the well casing the cutters are drawn downward until the upper faces of the body portions 25 are below the lower end of the wedge and the rear faces of these body portions 25 are nearly in contact. For 0011-, Venience in drawing the cutters down to this position they are each provided in their outer face with a recess 35 for inserting the hooked end of a suitable tool. In thus drawing the cutters down to the position indiand the under-reamer may be lowered.

through the casing. As soon as the body portions 25 pass below the lower end of the well casing the spring 21 acting in the rod 1? draws the cutters upward. The upper rear edges of the body portions 25 ride up ward and outward on' the inclined faces 3 of the wedge, causing the cutters to swing outward turning on the pin 22. The inner faces of the body portions 25 then slide upi ward on the slightly tapered faces 4 of the wedge untii their upper ends are against the abntanents '16. As these upper ends of the cutter bodies come in contact with the abutments the outer edges of the shanks %9 and 30 come in or nearly in contact with the edge walls 9 and M of the recesses :25. The reaming bits or cutters are thus in expanded position, being held against inward movement by the contact of their rear faces with the soiid wedge 2 they are hei'd against upward movement by the contact of their upper rear edges with the abntnaent's .6 are he'ald against outward movement by the Contact of the shanks 29 and 30 with the side walls? and 10. The cutters are thus firniiy held from movement in any direction except downward and are yieldingiy held against downward movement by the spring '21.

The pin 22 has a head 40 donned at one end and at the other end is reduced indi- ,ameter as shown at d1, the reduced portion being screwthreaded to receive a nut 42 which when screwed on to the reduced portion bears against a shoulder e15 so that it cannot be forced against the shanks of the cutters so as to cause them to bend against the bottoms of the recesses. A cotter pin 44 serves to prevent nut 42 from acciden tally unscrewed.

The pin 36 is cylindrical i'ronrt'he end at which it carries the ring 45 to a point 6 midway between its ends, and from this point to its free end it is tapered, Vhen in place as shown iniFig. 1, the point 46 will 1 approximately in line with the center oi the rod 17. 7 As soon as the pin is pulledoutward until the point 48 is out of the rod 17 the action of the spring causes the wall oi the hole 19 to actuponthe tapered orti'on of the pin to facilitate its withdraws The ring 45 is preferably made of a diameter slightly greater than the interior diameter of the casing in which the underearner is to be used, so that the pin cannot be dropped into the casing. It will, of course,be understood that'the pin 36 is used only when the under-learner is out of the casing to lock the cutters in collapsed position. I

In order to allow for d-iiferent weights of casing, that is casing for the same size of well hole but differing in thickness and'consequent'ly difi'ering in interior diameter, the upper ends of the cutters are turned to an arc ,of a circle of less diameter than that of the inside diameter of the casing, and the outer faces of the cutters are tape-red slightly fgom their upper ends to their cut-ting e, es.

7 upper faces 4 of the wedge which serve as bearings for the rear faces of the cutter bodies 25, are of substantially the same length as the cutter bodies, so that when the cutters are in ezgpandedposition the iower end of the wedgeis only slightly haying at its lower end a downwardly egrtending solid wedge and having abutmenils at the upper end of the wedge, oppositely arranged cutters having solid bodies having their rear adapted to bear against the faces of the wedge'and having shanks: ex-

tending upward their bodies,

shanks of the two eutters overlapping one on the other and being pivotaily :connected, and means engaging the shanks tor drawing the cutters upward to bring their upper ends against the abutments.

In. an under 'reamer, a steamer body having at its lower end a downwardly extending solid wedge and havingabutments at the upper end of the wedge, oppositely arranged cutters having solid bodies having their rear faces adapted to bear against the faces of the wedge-end having shanks extending upward from their bodies, the shanks of the two ,cutters overlapping one on the other and being pivotally connected, means engaging the shanks for drawing the gutters spear: to bring their upper ends against the abut-merits, and means engaging the shanks to hold the cutter bodies against the faces of the wedge.

'3. In an nnd'e-r-reamer, a. rear-nor having at its lower end a downwardly ex.- tending solid wedge and having abutrnents at the upper end of the -wedge, oppositely arranged cutters having solid bodies having their rear faces adapted to bear, against the faces of the wedge haying shanks ex? tending upward from their bodies, the shanks of the two cutters being piyotaily connected, and means whoiiy above the line of the abutments for engaging the shanks T for drawing the cutters upward to bring their upper ends againstthe abutments.

4. In an linden-retainer, a reanrer body having centrally of its lower end a down wardly extending solid imperforate wedge having upper faces inelinedat a slight angle to the axial line of the reamer body and adapted to serve as bearing surfaces forthe rear faces of solid cutter bodies, abutments at the upper ends of said upper faces of the wedge, cutters haying solid bodies havin their rear faces adapted to bear against upper faces of the wedge-andhavi shanks extendingupward above the line of re abutments, and means above the line or the shut ments for engaging the shanks to hold the cutter bodies against the faces of the wedge. 5. In an under-reamer, a reamer body having centrally of its lower end a clownwardly extending solid imperforate wedge.

extending upward above the line of the abutinents, means above the line of the abutments for engaging the shanks to hold the cutter bodies against thefaces of the wedge, and meansfor drawing the cutter bodies upward on the faces of the wedge.

6. In an under-reamer, a reamer body having centrally of its lower end a downwardly extending solid imperforate wedge having upper faces inclined at a slight angle to the axial line of the reamer body and adapted to serve asbearing surfaces for the rear faces of solid cutterbodies, abutments at the upper ends of said upper faces of the wedge, oppositely arranged cutters having solid bodies having their rear faces adapted tobear against said upper faces of the wedge and having shanks extending upward. above the line of the abutments, the shanks of the oppositely arranged cutters being pivoted together, means above the line of the abutments for engaging the shanks to hold the cutter bodies against the faces of the wedge, and means for drawing the cutter bodies upward on the wedge.

7. In an under-reamer, a reamer body having centrally of its lower end a downwardly extending solid imperforate wedge having upper faces inclined at a slight angle to the axial line of.the reamer body and lower faces at a materially greater angle to said axial line, the upper faces being adapted to serve as bearing surfaces for the rear faces of the bodies of the cutters and the lower faces being adapted to separate the cutter bodies as they are drawn upward from collapsed position, abutments at the upper ends of the upper faces of the wedge, and cutters having solid bodies havingtheir rear faces of substantially the same length as the upper faces of the wedge and movable thereon, and having their upper ends adapted to fit against said abutments, and means for'drawing the cutters upward into contact with said abutments adapted to permit the upper ends of'the cutter bodies to pass below the lower end of the wedge.

8. In an under-reamer, a reamer body having centrally of its lower end a downwardly extending solid imperforate wedge having upper faces inclined at a slight angle to the axial line of the retain r body and lower face-s at a materially, greater angle to said axial line, the upper faces belng adapted to serve as bearing surfaces for the rear faces of the bodies of the cutters and the lower face being.

adapted to separate the cutter bodies as they are drawn upward from collapsed position, abutments atthe upper ends of the upper faces of the wedge, and cutters having solid bodies having their rear faces of substantially thesame length as the upperfaces: of the wedge and movable thereon, and having the upper ends adapted to fit against said abutments, and means'for drawing the cutters upward into contact with said abutments adapted to permit the upper ends Oftlle cutter bodies to pass below the lower end of the wedge, comprising shanks extending upward from the cutter bodies and means located wholly above the line of the abutments engaging said shanks. i q

9. In an under-reamer, a reamer body having centrally of its lower end a downwardly extending solid imperforate'wedge having upper faces inclined at a slight angle to the axial line of the reamer body and lower faces at a materially greater angle to said axial line, the upper faces being adapted to serve as bearing surfaces forthe rear faces of the bodies of the cutters and the lower faces being adapted to separate the cutter bodies as they are drawn upward from collapsed position, abutments at theupper ends of the upper faces of the wedge,vand cutters having solid bodies having their rear faces of substantially the same length as the upper faces of the wedge and movable thereon,;and

having the upper ends adapted to fit against said abutments, and meansfor drawing the cutters upward into contact with said abutnients adapted to permit the upper ends of the cutter bodies to pass below the lower end of the wedge, comprising shanks extending upward from the cutter bodies, aslot extending through thereamer body in line with its axis and wholly above the line of the abutments, a pin engaging the shanks and movable in said slot and means for forcing the pin upward. i

10. In an under-reamer, a re-amer body having centrally of its lower end a down-c wardly extending solid imperforate wedge having upper faces inclined at a slight angle to the axial line of the reamer body and lower faces at a materially greater angle to said axial line, theyupper facesbeing adapted to form bearing surfaces for the rear faces against said abutments, and means for drawing the cutters upward into contact with said abutments adapted to permit the upper ends of the cutter bodies to pass below the lower end of the wedge, comprising shanks extending upward from the cutter bodies, a slot extending through the reamer body in line with its axis and wholly above the line of the abutments, a pin engaging the shanks and movable in said slot and a spring within the reamer body for forcing the pin upward.

11. A reaming bit or cutter for underreamers having a solid body, wings extending rearward from said body parallel with its sides one of said wings having its outer face in line with one of the sides and the other wing having its outer face spaced inward from the line of the other side a distance corresponding tothe thickness of the other wing so that when two cutters are placed back to back one wing of each cutter will have its inner face against the outer face of a wing of the other cutter, in combination with a solid wedge adapted to fill F the space between the wings of the cutter and serve as a support for the cutter bodies to sustain them against inward movement, the wings being extended upward and rearward above the upper ends of the cutter bodies to form shanks adapted to be pivotally secured together at their upper ends.

12. A reaming bit or cutter for underreamers having a solid body, wings extending rearward from said body parallel with its sides one of said wings having its outer face in line with one of the sides and the other wing having its outer facespaced inward from the line of the other side a distance corresponding to-the thickness of the other wing so that when two cutters are placed back to back one wing of each cutter will have its inner face against the outer face of a wing of the other cutter, in combination with a solid wedge adapted to signature.

FRED SWAN. 

